Best Christmas Gift Guide 2018 (32 Christmas Gift Ideas!)

Posted on 16 November 2018

Finally, it’s Christmastime! If you’re looking for the best Christmas gifts, you’ve come to the right place! Below, we’ve listed out the best Christmas gifts of 2018 in an easy-to-navigate gift guide! The holidays are a magical time of the year when you can take some time off work, relax with your loved ones, and spend some time doing only what you want to do. Another great part about the holidays is giving and receiving gifts from our loved ones -- it makes us feel good to give gifts that we know the recipient will enjoy and, similarly, to receive gifts that are useful, meaningful or that bring us joy.

But, what should I get my family and friends?

It’s not always easy to know what to get the people who are closest to us and, oftentimes, we can be at a loss and not know what to get the people we love most. There are some people who are just impossible to buy for, and then there are others who you can think of 10 - 20 gift ideas and you just don’t have the funds to get them all! All in all, researchers have found that many people strive to get extravagant gifts that will “create drama” when it is opened. Gift-givers put pressure on themselves to find the perfect gift, they one that will elicit a big reaction from the giftee. However, a study shows that recipients don’t want all this drama, and so, gift-givers should not aim for a “big reveal.”

Really?!

Well, what should I get them, then?

Luckily, we’ve crafted a gift list and gift ideas checklist for 2018. If you’re at a total loss for what to get your older brother or new girlfriend for instance, run through these pointers real quick to see if it sparks any ideas for you:

What are their hobbies? Base your ideas on what to get someone based on what they do, rather than what they say. When people are asked what they want for Christmas, they can often draw a blank. This is not necessarily because they don’t have things that they want -- they just might not think about all the activities they do in a year on the spot. So, think about what that person does on a regular basis or what kinds of leisure activities they enjoy during their off-time.

How well do you know them? If you know them well, personalized gift ideas are a great way to go. Personal touches let them know that you know what matters to them. If you don’t know them too well and aren’t sure what they would consider a “good” gift, avoid gifts that require you to make taste judgements. You don’t want to assume they like a certain brand or article of clothing if you’ve never heard them talk about it/wear it.

What do they find meaningful? Sentimental gifts are never a bad idea -- these kinds of gifts help to bond the gift-giver and the giftee. Think about events you and the giftee shared together and how best to commemorate those times -- perhaps with coordinates jewelry of the location of the event or a custom canvas print like these custom star maps.

Consider the 4 Gift Rule:Want, Need, Wear & Read. You could use this rule for each member of your family if your family is small or money isn’t a concern: give each person an item they want, an item they need, an item to wear, and an item to read. Or, you could choose one of the 4 and focus on purchasing 1 gift for every person: e.g. for John, get him a book and for Sarah, get her a blouse.

If you’re still not sure, we’ve got some more ideas for you -- don’t worry! Listen to the soothing and joyful Christmas music online below, and scroll through our 2018 gift ideas in our holiday gift guide!

Christmas Gift Ideas 2018

For the Harry Potter lover, this gift is an absolute must! For some, Harry Potter is more than just a book series or movie series -- it is a world of hope and wonder and, above all, magic. With this unique gift, you can encourage their imagination and help them learn the practical skill of coding!

Remember when you were a little kid and you’d games with all the other neighborhood kids before dinnertime? There is nothing quite like the gift of games that encourage playfulness. This Capture the Flag in the dark using futuristic lights is a new take on an old game! If you’re looking for a great gift idea for your kids, this is a great one to get them out of the house and away from the computer!

No matter who you are trying to find Christmas gifts for, we all have certain nights that hold a lot of meaning to us. Think back to a night that was meaningful to the giftee -- perhaps the night of their graduation, engagement or wedding. When you give a custom star map of their special night, they will be speechless.

Though this gift idea might be more practical, you really can’t go wrong with a high-quality gift such as this. Sometimes, practical gifts are the way to go! Items such as this help to create a more convenient lifestyle to ease stress and tension for the giftee. Though it might not be flashy, they will probably use it much more than this crystal dromedary with bronze ornaments.

For the party animal, for the music lover, for the modern age person -- this portable bluetooth speaker is small enough to take with you wherever you go and loud enough to wake the dead. For weekend festivities or quiet nights in, this speaker is a must to set the mood of the event.

For every pair of Bombas Socks you buy, a pair is donated to someone in need. Since socks are the #1 item requested at homeless shelters, the founders of Bombas Socks created a business plan to help those in need have greater access to socks. The holidays are a time to reflect on what is important to us and, with Bombas Socks, it doesn’t take much to give a little extra. This year, when you’re looking for gifts for your loved ones, get a pair of Bombas Socks for yourself or someone close to you, and help someone in need simultaneously.

Best Christmas Gifts 2018 For Her

Personalized necklaces, in general, have become really popular for a number of reasons. They make for great gifts for all the women in your life! Seriously -- whether they like jewelry or tend to not wear jewelry, a personalized necklace will have meaning and value to them. Specifically, a personalized necklace with their zodiac sign will speak to them and remind them of why they are the way they are.

We all have special places in our lives, places that hold meaning to us because of certain events or people. A great Christmas gift for her is a custom coordinates bracelet of a meaningful location. Coordinates jewelry in general can commemorate a memorable place, a special event, or can honor a person. If you’re wondering how to find GPS coordinates for your jewelry, check out this blog.

Tassels are a timeless trend, as are crossbody bags. Give her the gift of a comfortable and cute everyday bag to fit all her basic necessities -- keys, phone, wallet, makeup, pen/pencil, small notebook, tissues and chapstick!

Having a journal to keep your thoughts or to organize your daily tasks is always stress-relieving and helpful. They don’t need to be too large or extravagant, however -- a simple notebook like this one from Anthropologie will do the trick. The extra addition of her initial on the front cover will make her feel like this journal is just for her!

She will absolutely love this subscription beauty box with all her favorite makeup products. Seriously, don’t even worry about getting her anything else -- this will surprise her enough! A makeup subscription box means that she can keep being surprised every month by new products! Help her forget about her to-do list with a gift that lets her play with makeup

Every once in awhile, you need to change up your look or your hairdo or your scent. Well, this year, consider getting her this new signature fragrance from Tiffany & Co. to help her change up her style.

This book of 100 revolutionary women is fantastically illustrated and details the lives of past women who challenged the status quo and changed the rules for the modern woman. For those looking to bolster their knowledge on the women of the past who helped to create the world we live in today, this book is one of the best Christmas gifts of 2018 for her!

Encourage her to spend time doing what she loves with this new and smarter yoga mat! Regarding Christmas gift ideas for 2018, a smart yoga mat is absolutely essential -- combine your love of physical health with new-age technology for a truly unique experience. Not only is this mat self-rolling, but it also pairs with Amazon Alexa to talk you through the waves of the day.

Best Christmas Gifts 2018 For Him

For the football lover, this blanket is great! You can customize the blanket with a sports team of your choosing, so that he can be comfy while watching the game. Let him know you care about his comfort and his passions with this customized football blanket.

Sometimes, the best Christmas gifts are ones that create comfort and encourage rest and relaxation. Let him know you care about his mental and physical well-being with these super comfy lounge pants. As one of the 2018 gift ideas, these lounge pants convey to him that you know he’s been working super hard and he deserves a day off to lounge about in comfy pjs, with no to-do list in sight!

Self-care is important for men, too! Get him this gift kit with 5 natural skin care products for him -- he will thank you for thinking of this. This set includes Shave Cream, Aftershave, Body Wash, Hand Salve and Original Beeswax Lip Balm.

For the handy-man, this magnetic wristband is a great find. This innovative tool holds screws, nails and bolts right on your wrist so you don’t have to worry about losing small pieces anymore! This is a very practical and useful gift that a builder will really appreciate.

You can never go wrong with a nice bottle of alcohol. Originating from all 6 Cognac regions (Crus), this Assemblage de Crus was blended from several old batches of Eaux-de-vie, which created a sublime and complex blend. Spend the holidays bonding over a glass of this Cognac.

Alternatives to Buying Christmas Gifts

If you’re looking for some alternatives to buying Christmas gifts this year, we’ve got some ideas for you. Buying Christmas gifts for everyone in your family can be overwhelming and expensive. If you’re considering some inexpensive Christmas gift ideas for this Christmas 2018, then there’s a lot of different things you can do to save money this year.

Here’s the deal:

There are a lot of inexpensive Christmas gifts you could peruse to try to purchase a gift for everyone on your list. However, this always ends up being more expensive than you budget for -- no matter how hard you try to stick to a budget! -- and fairly time-consuming. Sometimes, it is nice to switch things up a bit, and, instead of focusing on gift items, it is nice to focus on the things that bring us together, like events, food or sentimental handmade gifts. These alternatives to buying Christmas gifts can still cost money, but hopefully less and they can bring us together better than a traditional gift exchange. So maybe, this Christmas 2018, if you’re looking for inexpensive Christmas gifts, practical gift ideas, or alternatives to buying Christmas gifts, keep in mind what really matters: family, friends, and the love you share.

DIY Christmas Gifts

#26 Pine-Scented Soy Candles - The smell of pine brings memories and images of Christmas trees to mind. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to fill your home with that Christmas tree smell, this is a great way to do just that.

#27 Snow Globes - These DIY snow globes make for great gifts for children, or home decor to give your house a holiday feel. Perhaps this Christmas 2018 you want to send a little bit of snow to someone in a warmer climate? These cute DIY snow globes are a creative and unique present.

#28 Hot Cocoa Party Favors - What could be better than hot cocoa at Christmastime? Gift ideas for Christmas 2018 don’t have to be fancy or elaborate -- just spend some time catching up with a loved one over a nice, piping hot cup of cocoa.

#29 Gingerbread Fudge - What is Christmas without a gingerbread house? It’s the little things, like the stockings and the ornaments, the eggnog and the gingerbread cookies that really make Christmas Christmas. This year, revisit that old tradition of gingerbread houses and make it even tastier by turning it into a fudge!!

#30 Watercolor Planters - While these watercolor planters don’t necessarily scream “Christmas,” they are a unique and thoughtful gift that anyone would love! Plants liven up a living space and make the environment feel homey and complete. This Christmas, consider sprucing up the home with some festive plants and colorful planters! To make them Christmas-y, you could use red, green and gold colors!

#31 Peppermint Oreo Truffles - These peppermint oreo truffles are a holiday must. Let’s be real -- it doesn’t even have to be the holidays for this decadent creation to be a must! Pair these with some hot cocoa and your fleece blanket (#32!) and you will be in Christmas heaven.

#32 Fleece Blanket - There is nothing like a fleece blanket in wintertime! Imagine being all cuddled up on the couch with your loved ones and enjoying a nice cup of cocoa while watching the snow fall. You can’t paint a better image of Christmastime than that.

And there you have it!

Your Christmas Gift Guide of 2018! We hope you got some great ideas for your holiday festivities this year, and feel free to comment your thoughts, likes and dislikes in the comments section below!